A 23-year-old woman testified that she killed her ex-lover with a large sword after her ex-boyfriend manipulated her into believing the victim was involved in a gang rape.
Kiara McCulley told the First Judicial District Court of New Mexico on Tuesday that her ex-boyfriend, Isaac Apodaca, 30, had convinced her to kill Grace Jennings, 21, whom they had both dated. McCulley admitted to the killing last year as part of a plea deal and was testifying as the star witness in Apodaca's trial. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
McCulley testified that she believed Jennings "deserved" to die, influenced by Apodaca's narrative. She also stated she believed Jennings had profited from spreading a video of the alleged rape, though McCulley admitted she had not viewed the footage herself. "[Apodaca] never showed [the video] to me, but I believed him," McCulley said.
McCulley and Jennings had a complex history, with McCulley stating they were "best friends" in second grade and later dated as teenagers. Jennings introduced McCulley to Apodaca in 2019. McCulley recounted that she and Apodaca lived on and off at her mother's house before moving into a garage. She testified that Apodaca convinced her to prostitute herself as neither of them were employed.
McCulley described a traumatic experience on Halloween in 2021, after partying with Apodaca and a client, where she believes her drink was spiked and she was raped. Approximately a year later, she developed "pretty strong feelings" about Jennings based on Apodaca's account of Jennings' alleged involvement in a gang rape. When Apodaca asked if she wanted to "kill Grace," McCulley testified her response was, "Duh."
Apodaca invited Jennings to stay with them in the garage on October 28, 2022. Jennings was reportedly going through a breakup and needed a place to stay. While Jennings slept, McCulley and Apodaca exchanged text messages. McCulley testified that prosecutors allege Apodaca was instructing her on how to commit the murder. The following morning, Apodaca messaged McCulley that Jennings had apparently admitted to her involvement in the supposed rape. "I was angry, I was hurt, I had so many mixed emotions," McCulley told the court. "Then Isaac handed me the sword."
McCulley described the weapon as "extremely sharp" and a "beautiful sword if you look it at in the view of art."
During her testimony, McCulley also detailed Apodaca's claims about himself, including that he was an angel and the founder of a vigilante organization called Ghost, which he claimed "took out" drug addicts, pedophiles, and rapists. He also allegedly told McCulley he had killed 40 people. McCulley stated she believed these claims at the time, wanting to be a "hero." However, she now rejects these claims and has engaged in significant self-reflection, saying, "I just wanted someone to love."
Apodaca's defense attorney argued that there is no DNA evidence linking Apodaca to the sword and that he was in the main house's bathroom when he discovered Jennings' body. The defense stated Apodaca called his mother and 911 and cooperated with law enforcement, characterizing this as "not the behavior of a killer."
McCulley is scheduled to be sentenced after Apodaca's trial concludes. Closing arguments are expected on Wednesday.